What’s a lung scan?

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A lung scan is a medical test conducted to screen for abnormalities in the lungs. An individual may be advised to have a scan of the lungs done if they are exhibiting specific symptoms. These symptoms may include shortness of breath, coughing up blood, chest pain, wheezing, and a persistent cough. A person with existing lung disease may have a scan to learn about the progression of the disease. Also, individuals suspected of having blood clots in the lungs may have a scan to confirm or rule out the possibility.

One type of lung scan is a ventilation scan, which is usually done to determine the lung’s ability to ventilate air. For this type of scan, a patient will wear a special mask that covers their mouth and nose. He will be asked to inhale a special tracer gas. Special cameras will capture more images as the tracer travels through the lungs. In most cases, the patient is asked to exhale and inhale at different times during this test.

A ventilation scan is usually combined with a perfusion scan. This type of lung scan is often used to analyze blood flow within the lungs. During this scan, a radioactive tracer is injected into the patient’s vein. Also in this scan, a special camera is used to highlight the radioactive tracer as it travels through the veins and into the cavities of the lungs. Blood circulating equally in the lungs will show uniform tracer distribution, while abnormal blood flow will be unevenly distributed.

Ventilation and perfusion scans are commonly done when a doctor suspects a patient may have a blood clot. These tests may also be done to diagnose pulmonary embolism, a blockage of one or more pulmonary arteries caused by blood clots. Pulmonary embolism can cause a disruption to both airflow and blood circulation in the lungs. In most cases, the results of ventilation and perfusion scans are similar in a person with healthy lungs. Results that are significantly unequal will generally indicate some type of lung abnormality.

If a doctor suspects lung cancer, they may order another lung scan. He or she may order an imaging test. This may include a lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs. These types of scans may be done as part of a lung cancer screening. They can also be conducted in an individual with an existing diagnosis of lung cancer.

Doctors may order just one lung scan for one patient or more. Typically, an individual’s symptoms and medical history can affect the type of scan they undergo. Some scans may be more suitable for some patients than others. After undergoing a scan of the lungs, doctors will call the patient and inform them of the results. The results can provide relevant information about what treatment you may need after a scan.

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